Help with starting my first fish tank

[FavCatfish]

Ive always been wanted some fish. I recently saw some gulper catfish eating on youtube and i decided i want to get a fish tank. Not gulpers right away, maybe a year or so from now. I like catfish the most and was wondering what kind of catfish is a good starter fish and what size tank and setup should i get?

Thanks

 

[Musd]

I would suggest goign to your local fish store(LFS) and cheacking out the diffrent fish that they have and make alist of what you'd like in an aqurium, secondly I would advise going on craigslist and finding the largest tank you can afford, post the exact link and let us help you find a good deal without having to break your wallet..

you will want to read up on all the basic guides...the most important being how to cycle your tank.., I would also advise you to tell us which fish you want in what sized tank as it allows us to inform you if its a wise choice... many people put an oscar(they need 60 gallons+) in a 10 gallon aquarium.

you said you wanted catfish, which type of catfish, plecos, coryies or some other ones? not all catfish can be housed in aquariums and those who have so it in very lare tanks

 

[Swiftwater]

Yep hes telling the truth ^

You got to cycle a tank before adding fish, cycling basically means building of bacteria (good bacteria) which converts ammonia into nitrites, and nitrites into nitrates. Ammonia and nitrites are toxic to fish but nitrates are tolerable in normal amounts. Look up a guide on fishless cycling. cycling takes normally around 2 weeks to a month.

I wouldn't start with catfish if its going to be your first fish, but in the end its your choice. Some smaller catfish are corydoras, otocinclus, or raphael catfish, these are hardy as well.

I would suggest trying to sustain a 10 gallon tank first, they are a good size and not at all that expensive, then if you are still interested and committed you can move onto larger tanks, and larger fish.

 

[FavCatfish]

Thanks for the information, it great welcomed. I want to start small for sure. I was thinking like a simple 10 gallon and i saw pictus catfish at the store and they are small. Would that be a good starter tank and fish? Im not a big fan of the pleco and the corys, i know there catfish but they dont look like the traditional catfish that i like.

Right now, im not worried about price i just want to get fish keeping down before a blow a huge bit of money on fish that i cant take care of. Can some one explain to me how to know how many fish to put in a tank?

Thanks

 

[FavCatfish]

If possible, i want a fish that wont outgrow a 55 up to a 100 gallon, but can start in a 10 gallon. So when i get the basics down i can move it to a 55 gallon (up to a 100 gallon would probably fit). Are theyre any cool looking ones that could do that?

 

[HarlanAshmore]

i think as long as u read up on how to peoperly maintain an aquarium pictus catfish would be good but they would need a minimum of 30 galons otherwise i really like pictus catfish i have a few and they are great

 

[rob22]

if i was you i would not get any thing smaller then 75 gallons. it is alot easer to maintain then smaller tanks. i say 75 because it is wider then the 55 with makes thing alot easer in the long run and you can find them on craigslist. well come

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

^^^ I agree if you are going to eventually get a 55-75-100 then do that first. Anything smaller is just wasteing time and money. One cat fish I like and you might as well is a bull head i think its the black variations. They stay small around 10-12'' an look just like a regular cat you might catch at a lake. When searching for this fish you will find sites that say they can reach 2-3lbs and 18'' and they can in the wild but in aquariums they normally never see over 10''. I have had one for 3 years in a 55 and it is about 7-8''.

 

[tattooedbstrd]

Get the biggest tank you can afford. Then figure out what you can put in it.

 

[FavCatfish]

ok, im convinced to buy a at least 55 gallon. When looking at the tank i saw that there is glass and acrylic. Is acrylic worth the extra money?

About catfish, i like bullheads, ive caught a few while fishing and ill probably put on in. How many 12in or less catfish and i put in the 55? or 75? What other kind of catfish stay under around or under a foot?

Thanks